Endless variety of books at local library

In this edition of Great Reads, your intrepid reporter seeks to enlighten, inform and hopefully meet your reading needs. Yes, we bibliophiles do make reading a priority and we sometimes sacrifice fun for the opportunity to curl up with a good book. Now your idea of fun may be different than mine, but when a new book beckons we readers do what comes naturally-we sit down and read. So without further ado, let’s see what’s new on the shelves at the Maricopa Public Library.

Neil Gaiman’s new novel, centers on what Americans value and the issues that drive our country in his fantasy epic “American Gods.” He tells the story of a man named Shadow and the road trip he takes after his wife’s death. Mia Fredricksen’s life takes a dramatic turn when her husband leaves her for a much younger woman. She flees Brooklyn and heads back to her hometown in Minnesota in “The Summer Without Men” by Siri Hustvedt.

In young adult fiction, 16-year-old protagonist Alice Amorous is faced with a delicate dilemma and questions her sanity in “Mad Love” by Suzanne Selfors. Julia Kagawa will delight fans of young adult fantasy with her new book “The Iron Daughter.”

Also new at the library this month, audio books for those who like to listen to stories while they drive or are busy with other activities. Featured authors include, Diana Palmer, Christine Feehan, Danielle Steele, Barbara Delinsky and Fern Michaels. Works by Glenn Beck, Tess Gerritsen, Eric Lustaber, Catherine Coulter, Mary Balogh and Laura Ingraham are also available for patrons.

There are a variety of nonfiction titles to meet the needs of those who prefer this genre. Jeff Kinney shares with readers how his bestselling book “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” became a movie in “The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary.” The pitfalls and perils of getting your child to sleep are hilariously told in Adam Mansbach’s “Go the F… to Sleep” with illustrations by Ricardo Cortes.

As a grad student, William Deresiewicz was given an assignment to read Jane Austen’s “Emma,” and in his memoir “A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter” he shares with readers how those books changed him and his life. “My Body Belongs To Me” by Jill Starishevsky and Sara Muller, is a guide to helping children who have been sexually abused. The authors wrote the book to encourage children to speak to someone they trust and it also provides advice to parents and where to go for help.

Diane and Bernie Lierow tell the story of their adopted daughter Danielle and how she overcame adversity to find love and a better life in their memoir “Dani’s Story: A Journey from Neglect to Love.”

Have you ever struggled in math, or do you have a child struggling with math especially algebra? Well, here’s a book that may help end the frustration, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Algebra Practice Problems” by Jane P. Gardner. This is a follow-up to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Algeba.” Also new to this series of self-help books is “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grant Writing,” by Waddy Thompson. In this third edition, readers can learn how to start a freelance business, write a proposal and gain pertinent information on applying for grant funding.

Ron Clark wants to change the way students and teachers learn and work together. In his new book “The End to Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck—101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers,” he shares with readers his strategies for change in the classroom.

Growing up, we were all told to stop the roughhousing but according to Dr. Anthony DeBenedet and Lawrence Cohen, its good for kids in their new book, “The Art of Roughousing: Good Old-fashioned Horseplay and Why Every Kid Needs It.” DK Publishing has a new fully illustrated 4th edition of the “First Aid Manual,” a reference guide to handling medical emergencies.

Finally, we have a book for computer lovers “Windows 7 Inside Out,” by Ed Bott, Carl Siechert and Craig Stinson. Timesaving solutions and troubleshooting tips to get the most out of this program for those who like working with the Windows operating system.

Oh well, as we close this edition of Great Reads, I hope you’ll have found something that may interest you. If you’re busy make a list of books you plan on reading, stay tuned as more titles are coming soon to your Maricopa Public Library.

Roberta Cianciosi is a member of the Friends of the Maricopa Public Library who loves to read and talk about books.